Port of New Bedford

THE EVOLUTION OF THE USA’S MOST PROFITABLE FISHING PORT

PORT OF NEW BEDFORD SUPPLY CHAIN

A VOYAG E OF SUCCESS As one of the last remaining marine industrial waterfronts on the East Coast, the New Bedford Port Authority’s Executive Director, Gordon Carr, discusses the balance between welcoming exciting new ventures and conserving its traditional industries Writer: Rachel Carr | Project Manager: Scarlett Burke

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ew England is home to a famous 17th-century whalingera seaport, reminiscent of a scene from an H.P. Lovecraft novel and the inspiration for Melville’s Moby Dick. Today, the Port of New Bedford continues to drive the regional economy as the number one commercial fishing port in the US and is progressing into adding the offshore wind industry to its impressive list of accomplishments.

The city of New Bedford is positioned on the Acushnet River in Massachusetts; over the other side of the harbor is Fairhaven, a different municipality on the South Coast where the waterway flows into

Buzzards Bay – an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. The port is geographically concentrated to support commercial, industrial and recreational maritime activities, presenting both benefits and a few challenges.

As a relatively small organization, previously known as the Harbor Development Commission and rebranded as the New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA), it manages fishing piers and other commercial fishing assets, a recreational marina, and several commercial real estate properties, as well as managing harbor users in a very busy port.

The NBPA is also the primary local advocate for the extensive

commercial fishing interests in the Harbor, leading the way in tracking issues and making the case for the industry and the state and federal levels.

One of the desirable aspects and unique features of the Port of New Bedford is its hurricane barrier, which was built in the 1960s after the area was slammed by several decades of extreme weather. The miles-long earthen dyke, protects the port from storm surges, including Hurricane Bob in 1991, and sea level rise with substantial metal gates, which close the 150’ wide opening during certain weather events, making it one of the safest hubs on the eastern seaboard.

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PORT OF NEW BEDFORD SUPPLY CHAIN

Alongside protection from potential storm events, the Port of New Bedford hosts a full suite of shoreside services that can support diverse industries.

Additionally, it is the first port to develop the offshore wind industry while remaining a global hub for landing and processing seafood.

“We have around 300 to 400 commercial fishing vessels in the port at any given time; while most of these vessels call New Bedford home, as many as 150 will utilize the port at any given time from all along the US Atlantic coast,” opens Gordon Carr, Executive Director of New Bedford Port Authority.

“The reason for that is the Port of New Bedford has all the services that a commercial maritime industry needs, from dockage space and fuel to ice for the fishermen and ship repairs, shipyards, and a talented workforce,” he continues.

Prior to joining the NBPA, Carr spent eight years at the Massachusetts Port Authority, and his introduction to the industry involved everything from the strategic planning side to commercial real estate planning and development.

Carr originally began working in the New Bedford area back in the 1990s, which was his first early introduction to the Port of New Bedford and its industries.

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commercial fishing industry – the economic and cultural heartbeat of the region.

STRONG FOUNDATIONS

“ D U E TO H A R D WORK AND FORESIGHT BY OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS, MIXED WITH OUR G E O G R A P H Y, W E ARE IN A POSITION TO B E T H E F I R ST S TA G I N G A N D MARSHALLING PORT FOR OFFSHORE WIND W H I C H I S C E R TA I N LY G AT H E R I N G AT T E N T I O N . ” – GORDON CARR, EXECUTIVE D I R E C TO R , N E W B E D FO R D PORT AUTHORITY

Recognizing what an exciting space it is to work in, Carr mentions how active the port is already, deriving from many decades of the

The NBPA’s mission is to implement the best management practices over port resources and develop economic growth strategies. The goal is to keep New Bedford as the number one fishing port in the country, as it has been for the past 22 years, while expanding existing businesses, and capitalizing on new opportunities.

With the end result being maintaining the port’s role as the heart of the New Bedford region’s economy and a significant driver of the economy of Massachusetts while capitalizing on any opportunity to maximize the potential of the port.

“We are currently overseeing over $100 million in infrastructure improvements, new facilities, new bulkheads, dredging, and port maintenance alongside the expansion of our assets, with some related to offshore wind,” Carr assures us.

Representing a wide array of harbor interests, one of the NBPA’s primary roles is to support economic development along the waterfront, which is accomplished with a reliable team behind it.

PORT OF NEW BEDFORD SUPPLY CHAIN

PORT OF NEW BEDFORD FACILITIES • Popes Island Marina • Marine Commerce Terminal • State Pier • New Bedford Seafood • New Bedford Ocean Cluster • Commercial Fishing Piers

“The pillars of the organization start with our team at the NBPA; we have technically skilled people on the operations and engineering side as well as the financial management side that all execute at a high level,” he notes.

Despite the NBPA’s size, it still has a broad reach within Massachusetts and the US commercial fishing industry. It has successfully leveraged this position in obtaining state and grant funding financial support from different resources.

“Our mission is to support the port as the engine for the regional economy through energizing our stakeholders. We are not in the business of making a profit. Left to our own devices and limited financial

resources, we are too small to undertake this task without outside financial support. It is challenging to secure outside grant funds, and they are even more difficult to implement, but the NBPA has been very effective in doing that.

“When chasing grants, success breeds success; you become a reliable partner. Federal agencies realize that you are a good steward of their funds.

It is a smooth process because of the team,” he enlightens us.

The overall diversity of the port adds strength to its operations, including physical infrastructure projects, new facilities, a port-wide dredging project, a bulkhead, and new terminal space –for commercial

fishing and offshore wind – all of which can only be executed with significant funding support.

“Our expansive Port-wide dredging project will improve our berthing areas and over 30 private facilities that could never afford the dredging independently. The ability for the NBPA to leverage those benefits to other private users is unique.”

Partner and supplier relationships are essential to the port business; a whole array of companies drive the port, and the NBPA manages certain assets. However, they differ from the Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates the container facility, the cruise terminal, and other assets.

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PORT OF NEW BEDFORD SUPPLY CHAIN

“ I T I S G O O D N E WS F R O M A M A N AG E M E N T P E R S P E C T I V E T H AT P E O P L E U N D E R S TA N D T H E NEED AND INVESTMENT REQUIRED FOR PORTS; OT H E RW I S E , M A N Y AS P E C TS O F O U R L I V E S C A N N OT BE FULFILLED” – G O R D O N C A R R , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R , N E W B E D FO R D P O R T AU T H O R I T Y

“We are not an operator in that sense. Our private sector partners, whether the individual fishermen or onshore service providers, are critical to the ongoing functionality of the day-to-day operations at the Port of New Bedford,” elaborates Carr.

SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE The Port of New Bedford was managed relatively simply for a long time by seeing to the basic needs of the fishing industry and their partners, which still exist today. Recognizing the future of the port and commercial fishing, the NBPA has taken on an expanding role by providing other needed resources such as technological upgrades, parking and infrastructure improvements, public advocacy, and long-range planning.

“We need to advance the technological side of things. We are working on a more sophisticated system, starting with artificial intelligence (AI) cameras that will manage and monitor vessel movements to gather data on the environment, operational bridge openings, and dockings to ensure the long-term safe and efficient operations of the Port,” Carr states.

“Having the distinction of being first in offshore wind, we are introducing the Port of New Bedford to different audiences nationally and globally. We want to seize that opportunity to do so. We want to put ourselves forward as a great place to invest. A place where you can be successful and have strong partners both operationally from the port perspective and 6 | North America Outlook Issue 19

through business development, and promotionally from the New Bedford Ocean Cluster side of things,” he tells us proudly.

One of the side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain crisis is that it has made people realize the importance of ports. Whether they are viewed as behind the scenes and taken for granted or they are accepted as part of the global industrial network, ports play an integral role in everyday life, particularly now with offshore wind.

“It is good news from a management perspective that people understand the need and investment required for ports; without ports, many aspects of our lives cannot be fulfilled.”

OPPORTUNITIES AND TRADITION While the introduction of offshore wind provides an opportunity for the region and the port, many of the offshore wind developments are entering highly productive fishing areas. Consequently, the fishing industry is concerned with the impact, as is the NBPA. “We spend a lot of time advocating for the commercial fishing industry and ensuring that both industries not only coexist but thrive. This is done by urging that extensive and appropriate research is done and that data is gathered on what impact there might be on the species and environment of our oceans and what steps are needed to operate in and around offshore wind facilities,” Carr

highlights.

Indeed, Europe prohibits fishing in many offshore wind developments in the North Atlantic Ocean. The NBPA does not want that to happen in the U.S. and recognizes the concern of fishermen that offshore wind development could adversely impact the ocean ecosystem or their fishing operations; hence, it is looking to help them function well together and support the commercial fishing industry, whether by targeted and robust research and data gathering, new investment, mitigation or proper communication between both industries.

“As the national leader in commercial fishing and now the pioneer port for offshore wind, no other port in the country has more at stake or is more interested in getting that balance right than the Port of New Bedford.

“Due to a little serendipity mixed with geography, we are in a position to be the first port staging and marshaling offshore wind, which is gathering attention. We are learning as the industry is learning how to operate effectively and build in the US.” The NBPA is in close contact with offshore wind developers and all their contractors. The port is an active and busy hub with over 300 commercial fishing vessels, so it has instituted a vessel escort program and vessel alert system. When the offshore wind vessels transit the harbor, security vessels ensure they do so as seamlessly and safely as possible for all port users.

ECONOMIC IMPACT INNOVATION – The Port of New Bedford is a deepwater commercial port with easy access to the maritime corridor from the Massachusetts coast, approximately nine nautical miles from the Cape Cod shipping canal. Its prime position supports a unique blend of uses; in addition to commercial fishing and offshore wind, there is a diverse market of cargo transport, research, and innovation with its marine education and technology.

COMMERCIAL FISHING – The port is Massachusetts’ most excellent natural resource and most significant asset. It stimulates investment and attracts new industries, creating jobs and developing the economy.

New Bedford’s commercial port directly employs more than 6,800 people, and its fishing port generates more than $11.1 billion of economic activity with related employment for more than 40,000 people. The fishing fleet of 500 lands over 122 million pounds of product annually, leveraging $322 million in direct sales.

CARGO TRANSPORT – The Port of New Bedford handles over $230 million in shipping in bulk commodities. Barge operations move aggregate and break-bulk cargo to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands.

FOREIGN TRADE ZONE (FTZ) – Providing duty-free manufacturing opportunities for importers and exporters. The city of New Bedford is the grantee and holder of FTZ number 28, which gives it a competitive advantage to foreign businesses seeking to trade in US markets.

“We continue to maintain open lines of communication as their schedule changes or as new circumstances present themselves because we want them to be efficient and minimize any disruptions to their operation.

We have a great partnership and coordination with Vineyard Wind and their team of contractors, all of whom are supportive of the port and are committed to being strong collaborators on operations” he adds.

Offshore wind developments are cyclical; therefore, it is critical that the first operations are done safely and smoothly. The next developers, and

likely other ports as well, will work largely from the NBPA blueprint.

Communication and responsiveness are the two ways the NBPA is helping launch the offshore industry.

“We need to understand what the needs of the operators and stakeholders are so we can be as responsive as necessary.”

The priority for the NBPA is to launch a successful offshore wind development while maintaining and promoting the commercial fishing industry. While it is a delicate balancing act, the NBPA is moving forward with the future of both

industries as the heart of its mission.

“Whether it is our smaller operational undertakings or larger construction and infrastructure projects, our goal and commitment are to host two successful and thriving industries in the Port for years to come,” finishes Carr.

Tel: +1 508-961-3000 portofnewbedford.org North America Outlook Issue 19 | 7

NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER SUPPLY CHAIN

A PORT OF PA R T N E R S H I P S We chart the course of an organization making a significant impact on the local marine industry with Jennifer Downing, Executive Director of New Bedford Ocean Cluster Writer: Rachel Carr | Project Manager: David Knott

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NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER SUPPLY CHAIN

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t the center of driving marine industry innovation and growth at the Port of New Bedford is the New Bedford Ocean Cluster (NBOC), a non-profit organization (NPO) created to leverage the City of New Bedford’s coastal position and extensive ocean economy and knowledge base to attract investment, support the formation and growth of maritime businesses, and foster initiatives that can create economic and community impact from the sustainable use of ocean resources.

Ports are at the center of offshore wind development, and the Port of New Bedford possesses a number of advantages that position it to be a leading hub for offshore wind and ocean innovation.

“The Port of New Bedford checks a lot of boxes for offshore wind: deep water, no height restrictions, ready infrastructure, and a diverse array of services to support everything from marshalling and staging to longterm operations and maintenance,” introduces Jennifer Downing, Executive Director of New Bedford

Ocean Cluster.

New Bedford also has geographic proximity on its side, as it is the closest, full-service port to the largest offshore wind lease area in northeast waters.

“Due to our success in commercial fishing, we have a robust cluster of established marine businesses and shoreside services in the Port of New Bedford, which is also advantageous for offshore wind. Our existing network of businesses is in an excellent position to contribute,” clarifies Downing.

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NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER SUPPLY CHAIN

Multiple ports are needed all along the East Coast to create an industry at scale to address climate change and meaningfully add to the US economy, and the Port of New Bedford is in a strong position to do both.

“The offshore wind industry presents an exciting opportunity for ports and their associated supply chains up and down the East Coast to integrate services and export products in new ways which carries with it potential to generate significant economic opportunity and local wealth.”

Launched in late 2021, the NBOC is an early-stage NPO with a big mission, and in a relatively short period, it has gained a lot of momentum and global brand recognition.

A WAVE OF STRATEGIES “We work collaboratively with the private sector, public sectors, and academic institutions to position New Bedford and Southeastern Massachusetts to be a leading ocean economy through the advancement of four interrelated marine pillars: aquaculture, commercial fishing and processing, innovation and technology, and offshore renewable energy,” says Downing.

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The Port of New Bedford has had a solid and successful commercial fishing and processing industry for generations.

“We see a lot of opportunity to utilize innovation and technology to advance and modernize the commercial fishing industry and launch new industries in the Port like aquaculture. There are opportunities for the fishing industry to work in offshore wind. For example, vessels can be upgraded, and crews trained to do project surveys and safety work.

In parts of the world, pilot projects are being launched to integrate aquaculture production with offshore wind.

“We have four industry pillars at the NBOC; while we want to see each prosper, we also seek to facilitate their intersection whenever possible. The convergence of industries will create a true ocean economy in the Port of New Bedford. It’s ambitious but incredibly exciting,” Downing explains.

The NBOC was modeled after successful ocean clusters in Europe and other areas of the world that have used the economic principle of clustering to make their coastal community more profitable, efficient,

and sustainable.

“We are not beginning from an experimental idea; we have seen how ocean cluster organizations like the Iceland Ocean Cluster, with which the NBOC has a formal partnership agreement, have successfully introduced new market opportunities to existing industries. When you look at effective ocean clusters, they have been efficacious conveners and clearinghouses of information. They have also successfully facilitated networking and collaboration between industries,” notes Downing.

“Ocean cluster organizations have supported technology transfer across various platforms to start new and support existing businesses.

They also have a role in marketing and promoting an area to increase visibility and attract commercial investment.

“It is a model and strategy that works, and we’re excited to be replicating it in the greater New Bedford region,” she adds.

PORT PROJECTS To continue to support long-term growth is of utmost importance to NBOC. The organization wants to

NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER SUPPLY CHAIN

THE NBOC ACT LOCAL PROGRAM This program supports the development of a diverse supply chain for offshore wind, maximizing the positive economic

Supporting local businesses – assisting local companies by providing support, sharing knowledge and resources, facilitating connections, and supporting partnerships to seize opportunities in the offshore wind industry.

impacts by encouraging local businesses to participate.

Identifying opportunities – building and maintaining relationships with companies, keeping updated on certifications, requirements, and timing of offshore wind projects.

Informing the community – ensuring offshore wind opportunities reach local businesses via direct outreach, regular communications, and events.

make the Port of New Bedford a model for commercial collaboration between port industries. Most significantly, commercial fishing and offshore wind.

“We want New Bedford to remain the number one commercial fishing industry in the U.S. and become the leading hub for the U.S offshore wind industry,” says Downing. One particular project highlights the relationship between the port and its supply chain.

“With support from Vineyard Wind, we started a project called Act Local to support the development of a diverse and equitable local supply chain for the offshore wind industry and to make certain that industries like commercial fishing can effectively coordinate and engage with offshore wind,” enthuses Downing.

“ W E S E E A LOT O F O P P O R T U N I T Y TO U T I L I Z E I N N O VAT I O N A N D T E C H N O L O G Y T O A D VA N C E A N D M O D E R N I Z E T H E COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY AND LAUNCH NEW INDUSTRIES IN THE PORT L I K E A Q U A C U LT U R E . ” – J E N N I F E R D OW N I N G , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R , N E W B E D FO R D OCEAN CLUSTER

Vineyard Wind is developing the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the U.S. The Act Local program was launched to support Vineyard Wind’s commitment to “Look Local First”, the Developer’s promise to contract and have their top-tier suppliers contract local people and businesses wherever possible. Today, the project is

expanding to support other developer’s future offshore wind projects.

An outreach and informationsharing initiative, the Act Local program is connecting Offshore Wind Developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and toptier suppliers with local people and businesses that can support projects.

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NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER SUPPLY CHAIN

The NBOC is trying to understand from offshore wind companies what products and services they will need to buy to support their project scopes, as well as the skills and experience they’ll need from workers to get the jobs done. The organization is then communicating company needs to the local community and attempting to make connections whenever possible.

“We are trying to understand what the industry needs by way of skills, products, and services,” she reveals.

“So that we can inform the community, make connections, and localize this potentially gamechanging industry. The NBOC also hosts periodic Community Outreach Forums and supports local job fairs and Meet-the-Buyers events.

“We continue to grow the project with feedback from other offshore wind developers and experienced companies in the industry. We are

excited about its potential to actively educate and involve the local community and impact local economic development,” Downing affirms.

ON THE HORIZON New Bedford is the primary marshaling and staging base for the Vineyard Wind 1 project, and the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, is the main facility where this work occurs. SouthCoast Wind will lease the facility for its two projects – SouthCoast Wind One and SouthCoast Wind Two. Therefore, it will remain a busy and active port in the coming years.

“Avengrid Renewables also has a project in the pipeline called Commonwealth Wind, and it has committed to having a control center in the Port of New Bedford.

Given the strengths of our Port, we have a significant role to play

in the long-term operations and maintenance of wind projects,” Downing observes.

Indeed, NBOC anticipates more industry activity within the Port, even if projects do not necessarily contribute directly to the Massachusetts grid.

“In addition to marshalling and operations and maintenance, the Port of New Bedford is also becoming a center for research and workforce training and development,” she details.

“We have a strong network of colleges and universities in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology, has been at the forefront of cooperative fisheries and offshore wind industry research. It is a huge asset to advancing the local blue economy. Bristol Community College, which has offered offshore

“ W E WA N T N E W B E D F O R D T O R E M A I N T H E N U M B E R O N E COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. AND BECOME THE LEADING HUB FOR THE U.S OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY” – J E N N I F E R D OW N I N G , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R , N E W B E D FO R D O C E A N C LU ST E R

NBOC GLOBAL GOALS Already, NBOC has hosted international delegations in New Bedford and has been invited to be part of international trade missions. In fact, Downing is heading to Norway this month to participate in an offshore wind trade mission.

“The NBOC served as the Local Business Association in a Danish offshore trade wind mission this past spring and took along six companies from New Bedford to be part of that experience. We will continue to emphasize our role and ensure we actively attend these conferences and participate in global forums,” states Downing.

NBOC is in an advantageous position to continue advancing what it is achieving with offshore wind, deepen the work it is doing with aquaculture and in the innovation and technology space, and expand its relationships with the commercial fishing industry in New Bedford.

“The key priority for us is to further define our work across all four of our pillars in the coming year.”

wind courses and certificates for several years, is opening the National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) in New Bedford this fall and will offer a comprehensive suite of industry training, including full Global Wind Organization (GWO) training offerings, virtual reality simulations, HUET, OPITO, STCW, and more.

“We plan on working closely with our academic and training partners to support their work and facilitate connections with industry to ensure the area offers demanddriven training and projects that will contribute to the growth of the local workforce and supply chain.”

The NBOC continues to support the local content needs of the Vineyard Wind 1 project but is also looking ahead to the next project(s) that will be approved as part of the Commonwealth’s fourth offshore wind solicitation process rolling out in 2024.

“We need to continue to plug into the industry here in the U.S. and beyond.” The NBOC also regularly hosts and participates in international offshore wind trade missions to explore partnerships and investment opportunities. NBOC has hosted delegations from England, Canada, Belgium and Denmark to date.

“We want the world to know that we are here to support their projects and highlight the many strengths and advantages of the Port of New Bedford and the surrounding area,” Downing finishes.

NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER Tel: 508-474-8902 Jennifer.downing@nboc.org www.nboc.org North America Outlook Issue 19 | 13

PORT OF NEW BEDFORD 123 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740 Tel: +1 508-961-3000 portofnewbedford.org

CITY OF NEW BEDFORD

NEW BEDFORD OCEAN CLUSTER 1213 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 Tel: 508-474-8902 Jennifer.downing@nboc.org www.nboc.org PRODUCED BY NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE